john campbell

Welcome to the latest episode of ComicsAlliance Presents “Kate or Die,” a series of exclusive comic strips created by one of our favorite cartoonists, Kate Leth! In this episode, Kate talks about the Hourly Comics Day challenge, and how it's great fun for everyone, no matter your skill level! Hourly Comics Day was created by cartoonist John Campbell to challenge people to create a comic every hour that they're awake on February 1st.

Since it's a movie about an actor best known for playing a superhero, it's not entirely strange for the Birdman movie website to have a section of comics. Unexpected, sure, but it makes a certain kind of sense. The story of the film surrounds an actor whose public persona is tied to a superhero film franchise. Comics could help tie the movie more tightly to that superhero's mythology, and flesh out the world of a film in an interesting and engaging way for fans who are curious to find out more. But here's the thing: The comics on the Birdman website aren't about Birdman at all. Instead, they're about its star, Michael Keaton, telling strange stories about how he was attacked by Michael Douglas and forced to change his name, how a meeting with Chris Farley involved prophecies of death, and, perhaps strangest of all, a long text piece about Courtney Cox's unfortunate super-powers.

John Campbell's webcomic "Pictures for Sad Children" is largely defined by its spare, minimalist drawing, and yes, a deep, pervading sense of ineluctable sadness that lingers long after you've finished the comic and yet somehow compels you to return...